The UAE aims to attract top health care innovators from around the world with the announcement of a new multi-million Dirham prize.

The Technology Innovation Pioneers (TIP) Healthcare Awards is open to global talent with innovative ideas to tackle any of the UAE’s health problems.

Launched with a vision to position Abu Dhabi as a centre of excellence and innovation in healthcare, the award is in-line with the capital’s Economic Vision 2030 plan, which identifies the sector as a key strategic pillar.

The award was launched by the department of health (DoH) in partnership with the Ministry of Economy and Department of Economic Development’s (DED) on Thursday.

According to the organisers, “the TIP Healthcare Awards aim to establish a sustainable world-class platform to encourage quality and competitive healthcare innovations, on a global scale, by attracting innovators and entrepreneurs from all over the world and to stimulate innovation across a wide healthcare spectrum, ranging from medicines, biomedical devices, virtual and augmented reality, disease control, and the application of the Internet of Things (IoT) solutions.”

Applying is simple – “there are no requirements or restrictions,” said Salem Bin Shabib, adviser for innovation, incubators and small and medium projects at the DED.

Innovators can apply for the prize and patent their inventions through the platform at www.healthcare.tip.gov.ae, which offers grants and support for the development and marketing of inventions.

Officials are yet to reveal the specific date of the awards ceremony but said it would be sometime in April. “Tentatively the prize money has been set at Dh3 million,” Mr Bin Shabib said.

TIP platform can be accessed through www.tip.gov.ae and on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook accounts through @TIPUAE